Amphicar
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History
The Amphicar was a German automobile designed by Hans Trippel, creator of the war-time Schwimmwagen. It was the first amphibious car made available to the public. Its name is a combination of "amphibious" and "car".
The car, manufactured by the Quandt Group at Lübeck and at Berlin-Borsigwalde, was amphibious.
The powerplant was the four-cylinder 1.1 L (1147 cc/69 in³) engine from the British Triumph Herald, with a power output of 43 hp (32 kW) at 4750 rpm. Called the "Model 770", the Amphicar could achieve speeds of 7 knots in the water and 70 mph (113 km/h) on land.
Production started in 1961, after 1963, cars were assembled from the parts which had been supplied for the over-estimated sales of 20,000 per year, and production ended in 1968. Most cars were sold in the United States. Cars were sold in the UK from 1964. Total production was 3,878 vehicles before the company folded.
Modern appreciation
During the fourth week in July, Amphicar owners convene at Grand Lake St. Marys in western Ohio. These events are called Swim-ins [1] (http://www.amphicar.com/WhyCelina.htm), and are designed to give owners a chance to interact with one another.
External link
- Official Website of the International Amphicar Owners Club (http://www.amphicar.com/)